In his speech at the event, Tran Quoc Nam, Chairman of the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee, highlighted that the Ponagar Tower relic reflects the cultural exchanges, integration, and continuity in Vietnam’s history. The site embodies both Cham and Vietnamese cultural values through the worship of the Goddess Ponagar (Thien Y A Na), revered as the Holy Mother of the Cham people and a central figure in Mother Goddess worship across the south-central region.

Nam also announced that the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to launch two artistic programmes which are held regularly on the first and 15th days of each lunar month, aiming to attract both locals and tourists.

Also during the ceremony, Khanh Hoa received a certificate recognising “the traditional knowledge of harvesting and processing agarwood in Khanh Hoa province” as part of the national intangible cultural heritage.

Khanh Hoa has long been known as the “land of agarwood,” with a well-established national brand. The province is currently home to various craft villages, cooperatives, and artisan groups producing agarwood-based items such as incense sticks, bracelets, statues, and essential oils, the provncial leader added.

Many of these products have received OCOP (One Commune One Product) certification, thereby strengthening the Khanh Hoa agarwood brand in both domestic and international markets.

Nguyen Van Hoa, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, described the two heritage titles as a great source of pride for the province, saying the locality will continue researching and developing specific measures to better preserve and promote its traditional cultural values.

According to Hoa, the recognition not only contributes to the protection and promotion of heritage but also serves as a driver for sustainable tourism development. It plays a vital role in building Khanh Hoa’s cultural identity and reinforcing its image as the land of flourishing cultural heritage.

Khanh Hoa hosts festival honouring Goddess Ponagar

VOV.VN - The Goddess Ponagar Festival opened in Nha Trang city in the central Khanh Hoa province on April 21, with the occasion attracting thousands of pilgrims from surrounding provinces.